14. 128 vs India, Rajkot 2016

Stokes' only century in Asia might be a surprise entry at the bottom, but the pitch was seriously flat and Cook, Root and Ali all made centuries in this game too, which ended in a draw. His record in Asia is one of the few marks against him.

13. 141 vs India, Old Trafford 2025

His other century against India has a similar problem: flat pitch, most of the top order made runs against an attack that was tiring after a long series. The fact it was his first hundred in 2 years stops it being bottom.

12. 120 vs South Africa, Port Elizabeth 2020

This was Stokes in his pomp. He was consistently excellent with the bat from 2019-2020, coming in at 5. He was so good technically, many pundits wondered if he should be England's number 3. His partnership with Ollie Pope helped England to dominate this match and win by an innings.

11. 120 vs West Indies, Barbados 2022

Seriously flat pith in one of England's strangest series of modern times, the last before Bazball. This was a sign of things to come as Stokes' hundred came with a strike rate of 94, whilst at the same time Root hit his slowest ever century. A more interesting England innings in hindsight.

10. 100 vs West Indies, Headingley 2017

The first Stokes century in this list where England went on to lose the game. A match better remembered for Shai Hope and all that, Stokes was now the best all-rounder in the game putting in consistent performances with both bat and ball. Stokes made 38% of England's runs here in the first innings of a test they somehow conspired to lose.

 

9. 103 vs South Africa, Old Trafford 2022

His first century as captain, in England's least Bazballing performance of the first Bazball summer. Stokes and Foakes

combined to save England from a tricky situation with the bat, dominating a South African attack that had blown England away in

the first test of the series. Maybe the last century when he was properly fluent?

8. 176 vs West Indies, Old Trafford 2020

Big hundred in a big partnership with Dom Sibley, Stokes never looked too troubled against a good West Indies attack. A strike rate of 49 is low for Stokes, and being played behind closed doors takes the shine of a tad, but this innings was crucial in getting England back into a series that was more closely fought than many expected.

 

7. 112 vs South Africa, The Oval 2017

This was a particularly brutal innings with Stokes, against a pace attack of Morkel, Philander and Rabada who had won a series in Australia 6 months before. South Africa were a top team under Faf du Plessis for a period, and this innings helped England bounce back from a miserable defeat at Trent Bridge. He brought up his century with a 6, which is always fun.

6. 115* vs Australia, Lords 2019

An innings that gets forgotten because of what came next. Stokes took England from a position of peril to being able to declare to try and force a win. This was a top class Australian attack which Stokes counter-attacked brilliantly against once defeat for England was unlikely. 

5. 120 vs Australia, Perth 2013

His maiden test century was also his first great test century. Johnson and Harris were better than any duo has maybe ever been in an Ashes, and Stokes took them on better than any England player managed all series. Whilst it wasn't smooth sailing straight after this series, this innings gave England fans hope at a time when it was in short supply.

4. 101 vs New Zealand, Lords 2015

The first time Stokes went into full beast mode. He hit the fastest test hundred at Lords to put England into a position where they had enough time to win a thriller. McCullum was the opposition captain, which gives this innings extra significance now.

3. 155 vs Australia, Lords 2023

Would be at number 1 if he had got England over the line. His explosion after the Bairstow incident was incredible, hitting 6s at will against the Aussies Big Three. His apparent calmness in these situations is unmatched, and his record at Lords is fantastic.

2. 258 vs South Africa, Cape Town 2016

This was like his innings against the Kiwis the year before, except it went on for longer and was against Rabada and Morkel. Eleven 6s is absurd, and it was the first time the rest of the cricket world saw what England fans already knew: this guy was special.

1. 135* vs Australia, Headingley 2019

Not just the greatest innings by an Englishman, Not just the greatest innings in Ashes history. But arguably the greatest innings ever played by anyone ever. Run making and cricketing drama does not get any better than this, and may ever do again. Watch it again. Now. The winning moment will give you chills. Unless you're Nathan Lyon.